Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home on Thursday, February 25, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a time of prayer and remembrance at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Services for Blake will be held on Friday, February 26, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at the World War Memorial Building, downtown Devils Lake with Reverend Paul Schuster officiating.
Blake David Skadsem, precious son of Melissa Skadsem and David Nelson was born on February 11, 1996 in Devils Lake ND. He grew up in the Lake Region area and Lisbon ND and attended elementary school. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Fargo with the class of 2013. While in school he participated in football, hockey and wrestling.
Blake worked a variety of jobs, but he had a special love for the outdoors, the land, the hard work of a farmer and worked as a farm laborer for several farmers through the years. He was a self-taught mechanic and was always working on motors, small engines, taking things apart and putting them back together; a jack-of-all trades.
Blake loved his toys; 4 wheelers, snowmobiles, dirt bikes and mud runs. He was an avid hunter and always ready to go fishing, but never keen on the idea of the boat rocking back and forth. But if it meant spending the day with family and friends, he went.
Blake was “the most sociable person in the Tri-State area”. He loved his family, he loved his friends, he loved people. He loved with his whole heart. A hug from Blake was memorable. He gave the best hugs around.
Our sadness is overwhelming, but our memories of Blake will never be forgotten. Blake you are forever missed, forever loved and forever in our hearts.
Blake’s loving family include his mother Melissa Skadsem, Devils Lake; father David (Jessica) Nelson, Devils Lake; sister Brooke Hoenhause, Lisbon ND; grandparents Patricia Skadsem and Mike Larson and Sandra (Nelson) and Tom Maloney all of Devils Lake; uncles Adrian (Holly) Skadsem, Waconia MN and Dan (Terri) Nelson, Buckeye AZ; special aunts Trish Myklebust, Mandie Stautz and Kari Allery and their families; special family Lori and Greg Urbach and Jody Hoenhause all of Lisbon ND, Jeff and Brenda Huber of Devils Lake; numerous great aunts, great uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandpas Merlin Skadsem and Dean Nelson; great grandparents Reuben and Delores Skadsem, Milton and Annie Bachmeier, Louise Nelson and Dorothy Sobak; dear friend to Blake Kevin Lemma and several beloved family members.
Urn Bearers will be Lane Kenner, John Huber, Ryan Kraft, Riley Walking Eagle, Scott Likness and Shawn Urbach. Honorary Bearers will be Blake’s many, many other friends and loved ones.